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Schedule of Events

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

9:00am-9:00pm – Race Headquarters opens at the Holiday Inn. Headquarters will be open to the public every day from 9am until 9pm. Displays, Information, merchandise, souvenirs, videos, Silent Auction and more!

Silent Auction hours are Weds. 2/15 @ 9am and closes noon on Sun. 2/19.

Headquarters phone # is 225-9170.

Headquarters communication center will be open 24 hours Fri. 2/17 through 2/19.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

6:00pm – Pre-race Banquet and Bib Draw at Holiday Inn. Watch to see who is first out of the chute for both races, Tickets available at Headquarters.

The musher banquet will be held at the Holiday Inn at 6:00pm and is open to the public. Mushers are required to attend as their bib numbers will be handed out. (This is the order mushers will leave the chute). All musher’s receive one ticket. Additional tickets will be available at the door, or can be purchased at the merchandise room at the Holiday Inn. Come watch to see who is first out of the chute for both races.

Friday, February 17, 2012

9:00am -  Vet check for all teams at Riverside Auto parking lot. Don’t miss seeing the real athletes of this race receive a pre-race exam by race veterinarians.

10:00am-2:00pm – U.P. 200 Musher’s Brunch, Downtown

Marquette Commons (sponsored by The Mining Journal)

1:00pm-3:00pm – Midnight Run Chili Fest, Public Service

Garage (sponsored by Public Service Garage)

4:00pm -  Midnight Run teams begin arriving in downtown Marquette. Watch the Mushers prepare for the big race

4:00pm-7:00pm – UP Children’s Museum-UP 200 Family Warm Up Party

6:00 to 6:30 before the Opening Ceremony the Polk-eh-dot band will perform for the crowds entertainment.

Currently we have 31 Midnight Run teams. The Ceremonial Start  in Downtown Marquette will consist of all mushers with a six dog team.

6:30pm – Opening Ceremony for the 23rd running of the Midnight Run. Come join Steve Asplund and Frida Waara in welcoming all our sponsors, representatives and spectators to the Race and join the Marine Corps League Color Guard display our flag with pride.

7:10pm – MIDNIGHT RUN CEREMONIAL START

Downtown Marquette in front of The Mining Journal.

8:00pm – START OF THE UP200 IN CHATHAM.

Chatham to Wetmore, unassisted checkpoint in Wetmore, Grand Marais assisted checkpoint, Grand Marais to Wetmore, unassisted checkpoint in Wetmore. Return to Grand Marais to Finish

10:00pm – Restart of The Midnight Run in Chatham.

Chatham to Chatham Loop (musher trucks stay in Chatham). Layover, Chatham, assisted checkpoint, 5 hours rest plus differential. Chatham to Munising Finish.

11:00pm (approximately) – UP 200 Mushers start arriving at the Cherrywood Lodge in Wetmore for a layover. We have two unassisted checkpoints. This is a unique experience to see Mushers tend to their dogs by themselves. Cherrywood Lodge in 3 miles East of Munising on M-28.

Saturday, February 18

Jack Rabbit Challenge Snow Shoe – Start time 9:00am at Teaching Family Homes Marquette. Contact Information – Joleen Baysore (906) 249-5437 – 9:00am

9:30am – Jack Pine 30 Race begins in Gwinn at Larry’s Family Foods. Runs the old UP 200 trail near Highway 553 to Sands Station. Follow railroad track to Goose Lake then on to 480 Finish.

11:00am (approximately) – Cheer on the Midnight Run Mushers as they cross the Finish Line across from Mather Grade School in Munising

11:00am – Kiwanis Kiddie Mutt Race at the Commons Downtown Marquette. Bring your dog to see what is is like to be a sled dog.

All Day in Grand Marais – The UP 200 Mushers will strategize and come into the Grand Marais checkpoint in the morning and early afternoon. They will take a layover and will head back for the return trip to Wetmore, departing in the afternoon.  This is a great place to see the UP 200 teams up close. Visitors can stroll through the lot and take photographs. Breakfast in the morning. Bake sale, lunch all day, Silent Auction from 10:00am – 5:00pm, Massages by the minute 11:00am – 3:00pm and UP200 merchandise on sale.

4:00pm – Midnight Run Awards Banquet at Sydney’s Restaurant in Munising at 4pm and is open to the public. Tickets will be available at the door, or can be purchased at the merchandise room at the Holiday Inn. (  Midnight Run musher’s will receive one ticket )

Sunday, February 19

10:00am–1:00pm – Come see the UP 200 Mushers finish in Grand Marais

Silent Auction will be ending at the Holiday Inn at noon.  Winners to be notified immediately after.

Monday, February 20

The UP200 awards breakfast will be held at the Holiday Inn at 8am and is also open to the public. UP200 mushers will receive one ticket.  Additional tickets will be available at the door, or can be purchased at the merchandise room at the Holiday Inn.